The Influence of Antimicrobial Peptides and Mucolytics on the Integrity of Biofilms Consisting of Bacteria and Yeasts as Affecting Voice Prosthetic Air Flow Resistances

The integrity of biofilms on voice prostheses used to rehabilitate speech in laryngectomized patients causes unwanted increases in airflow resistance, impeding speech. Biofilm integrity is ensured by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This study aimed to determine whether synthetic salivary peptides or mucolytics, including N-acetylcysteine and ascorbic acid, influence the integrity of voice prosthetic biofilms. Biofilms were grown on voice prostheses in an artificial throat model and exposed to synthetic salivary peptides, mucolytics and two different antiseptics (chlorhexidine and Triclosan). Synthetic salivary peptides did not reduce the air flow resistance of voice prostheses after biofilm formation. Although both chlorhexidine and Triclosan reduced microbial numbers on the prostheses, only the Triclosan-containing positive control reduced the air flow resistance. Unlike ascorbic acid, the mucolytic N-acetylcysteine removed most EPS from the biofilms and induced a decrease in air flow resistance.     

大剂量氨溴索对大鼠肺缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及机制研究

目的：评价大剂量盐酸氨溴索（沐舒坦）对肺缺血再灌注损伤（Lungischemiareperfusioninjury,LIRI）的保护作用及其机制。方法：实验选取sD大鼠36只,分为三组：缺血再灌注损伤组;沐舒坦干预组;手术对照组。对大鼠进行左侧开胸并阻断左肺门根部60min,然后进行再灌注6h。沐舒坦干预组再灌注开始时,经股静脉持续6h输入沐舒坦溶液（3．75mg·kg-1．h-1）。分别检测大鼠动脉血氧分压,肺组织湿／干重比值,氧化应激因子（MDA,SOD,GSH-PX）含量,髓过氧化物酶（MPO）活力,细胞因子（TNF-α、MCP-1、TGF-β1）基因mRNA的表达水平,光镜下观察病理组织学改变。结果：（1）大剂量沐舒坦干预后,肺间质水肿、炎症细胞浸润、肺泡内出血、渗出等较再灌注损伤组明显改善（P〈O．05）;肺组织湿／干重比值显著降低（P〈0．05）;动脉血氧分压明显改善（P〈0．05）。（2）大剂量沐舒坦干预后,肺组织MDA、SOD、和GSH—PX含量基本降至正常水平;MPO活力降至手术对照组水平;差异均明显低于缺血再灌注损伤组（P〈0．05）。（3）沐舒坦干预组的TNF-α,MCP-1,TGF．B1基因mRNA表达水平在药物干预后虽未能恢复至正常水平,但是较缺血再灌注损伤组明显降低。结论：大剂量沐舒坦可参与下调肺组织的MDA、SOD、GSH．PX的含量和MPO活力,并通过下调TNF-α、MCP．1、TGF-β1基因rnRNA的表达水平达到减轻LIRI损伤程度的目的。本研究结果表明,沐舒坦通过调控uRJ在形成过程中相关基因的表达来抑制氧化应激损伤,从而有效的减轻肺缺血再灌注损伤。     

The influence of antimicrobial peptides and mucolytics on the integrity of biofilms consisting of bacteria and yeasts as affecting voice prosthetic air flow resistances

The integrity of biofilms on voice prostheses used to rehabilitate speech in laryngectomized patients causes unwanted increases in airflow resistance, impeding speech. Biofilm integrity is ensured by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This study aimed to determine whether synthetic salivary peptides or mucolytics, including N-acetylcysteine and ascorbic acid, influence the integrity of voice prosthetic biofilms. Biofilms were grown on voice prostheses in an artificial throat model and exposed to synthetic salivary peptides, mucolytics and two different antiseptics (chlorhexidine and Triclosan). Synthetic salivary peptides did not reduce the air flow resistance of voice prostheses afterm biofilm formation. Although both chlorhexidine and Triclosan reduced microbial numbers on the prostheses, only the Triclosan-containing positive control reduced the air flow resistance. Unlike ascorbic acid, the mucolytic N-acetylcysteine removed most EPS from the biofilms and induced a decrease in air flow resistance.     

N-acetylcysteine pretreatment attenuates paraquat-induced lung leak in rats

We investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) pretreatment on paraquat-induced lung inflammation and leak. We found that administering a single intravenous dose (60 mg/kg) of paraquat rapidly (2 h) increased lung leak, lung lavage cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) levels, and lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in rats. Rats pretreated with NAC (150 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) had increased lung tissue glutathione (GSH + GSSG) levels compared to saline-pretreated rats. In addition, rats pretreated with NAC and then given paraquat 2.5 h later had decreased lung leak compared to saline-pretreated rats given paraquat. In contrast, NAC pretreated rats given paraquat had the same lung lavage CINC levels and lung tissue MPO activity as saline-pretreated rats given paraquat. Our results indicate that paraquat causes an oxidative injury which may be decreased by the GSH-increasing or other properties of NAC.     

N-acetylcysteine prevents pulmonary edema and acute kidney injury in rats with sepsis submitted to mechanical ventilation

Sepsis is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) and acute lung injury. Oxidative stress plays as important role in such injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects that the potent antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has on renal and pulmonary function in rats with sepsis. Rats, treated or not with NAC (4.8 g/l in drinking water), underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) 2 days after the initiation of NAC treatment, which was maintained throughout the study. At 24 h post-CLP, renal and pulmonary function were studied in four groups: control, control + NAC, CLP, and CLP + NAC. All animals were submitted to low-tidal-volume mechanical ventilation. We evaluated respiratory mechanics, the sodium cotransporters Na-K-2Cl (NKCC1) and the α-subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (α-ENaC), polymorphonuclear neutrophils, the edema index, oxidative stress (plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lung tissue 8-isoprostane), and glomerular filtration rate. The CLP rats developed AKI, which was ameliorated in the CLP + NAC rats. Sepsis-induced alterations in respiratory mechanics were also ameliorated by NAC. Edema indexes were lower in the CLP + NAC group, as was the wet-to-dry lung weight ratio. In CLP + NAC rats, α-ENaC expression was upregulated, whereas that of NKCC1 was downregulated, although the difference was not significant. In the CLP + NAC group, oxidative stress was significantly lower and survival rates were significantly higher than in the CLP group. The protective effects of NAC (against kidney and lung injury) are likely attributable to the decrease in oxidative stress, suggesting that NAC can be useful in the treatment of sepsis.     

Changes in the prostaglandin levels in alcohol toxicity: effect of curcumin and N-acetylcysteine

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential role of curcumin, the antioxidant principal from Curcuma longa Linn., and the sulphur-containing amino acid N-acetylcysteine against ethanol-induced changes in the levels of prostanoids. Biochemical assessment of liver damage was done by measuring the activities of serum enzymes (i.e., aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase), which were significantly increased in rats fed ethanol, whereas the elevated levels of these enzymes were decreased after curcumin and N-acetylcysteine treatment to rats fed ethanol. We observed a significant increase in the levels of prostaglandins E(1), E(2), F(2alpha), and D(2) in liver, kidney, and brain. Administration of curcumin and N-acetylcysteine was shown to decrease the level of these prostanoids in the tissue studied.     

Ambroxol-induced modification of ion transport in human airway Calu-3 epithelia

Ambroxol is often used as a mucolytic agent in various lung diseases. However, it is unclear how ambroxol acts on bronchial epithelial cells. To clarify the action of ambroxol, we studied the effects of ambroxol on the ion transport in human Calu-3 cells, a human submucosal serous cell line, measuring the transepithelial short-circuit current and conductance across monolayers of Calu-3 cells. Ambroxol of 100 microM diminished the terbutaline (a beta2-adrenergic agonist)-stimulated Cl-/HCO3(-)-dependent secretion without any decreases in the conductance of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel locating on the apical membrane. On the other hand, under the basal (unstimulated) condition ambroxol increased the Cl(-)-dependent secretion with no significant change in the apical CFTR channel conductance and decreased the HCO3- secretion associated with a decrease in the apical CFTR channel conductance. Ambroxol had no major action on the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) or the ENaC-mediated Na+ absorption. These results indicate that in Calu-3 cells: (1) under the basal (unstimulated) condition ambroxol increases Cl- secretion by stimulating the entry step of Cl- and decreases HCO3- secretion by diminishing the activity of the CFTR channel and/or the Na+/HCO3(-)-dependent cotransporter, (2) under the adrenergic agonist-stimulated condition, ambroxol decreases Cl- secretion by acting on the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger, and (3) ambroxol has a more powerful action than the adrenergic agonist on the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger, leading fluid secretion to a moderately stimulated level from a hyper-stimulated level.     

氨溴索对铜绿假单胞菌生物膜早期黏附及胞外多糖的影响

目的研究氨溴索对铜绿假单胞菌PA01菌株BF早期黏附及胞外多糖复合物（Extracellular Pdymeric Substances,EPS）的影响。方法利用荧光多功能酶标仪检测各组不同时间点96孔板中pGFPuv转化PA01菌株的荧光强度,计算黏附率以表示干预对不同时间点细菌黏附的影响;利用罗丹明标记的麦胚凝集素（WGA）特异性结合细菌EPS,荧光显微镜下定性观察各组EPS的变化;利用硫酸-苯酚法定量各组细菌EPS的产量。结果8h组,氨溴索高浓度干预后细菌的黏附率由0．72±0．17下降至0．49±0．08,t=4．03,P〈0．05,与克拉霉素阳性对照组黏附率（0．50±0．06）相比,t=-1．19,P〉0．05;氨溴索低浓度干预后黏附率也有下降,但不及高浓度组明显;其余时间组趋势与8h组大致相似。罗丹明标记WGA可使胞外多糖显色,在荧光显微镜下观察可见氨溴索干预后EPS减少,稀薄;EPS定量实验,EPS总量（μg）／细菌干重（g）氨溴索干预组（477．82±7．90）较生理盐水对照组（523．76±10．12）有明显降低,t=8．76,P〈0．05。结论氨溴索可显著减少PA01菌株黏附及产EPS的能力。     

Use of collateral airways to assess airway reactivity

We investigated the correlation between collateral airway reactivity and other indexes of lung reactivity in response to aerosol and intravenous (iv) challenges. In four anesthetized mongrel dogs, we measured the peripheral airway resistance (Rp) to gas flow out of a wedged lung segment in different lobes on multiple occasions. We obtained dose-response curves of peripheral airways challenged with iv histamine or aerosols through the bronchoscope. During the same iv bolus challenge, whole lung airway pressure (Paw) responses to histamine were also measured. On separate occasions, changes in lung resistance (RL) were measured after the whole lung was challenged with a histamine aerosol. Reactivity was assessed from the dose-response curves for Rp and RL as the PD50 (dose required to produce a 50% increase); for changes in Paw we calculated the PD15 (dose required to produce a 15% increase over baseline). Results for Rp showed considerably more variability among different lobes in a given animal with the aerosol challenge through the bronchoscope than with the iv challenge. With aerosol challenge there were no significant differences in the mean PD50 for Rp among any of the animals. However, with the iv challenge two of the dogs showed significant differences from the others in reactivity assessed with Rp (P less than 0.01). Moreover, the differences found in the peripheral airways with iv challenge reflected differences found in whole lung reactivity assessed with either iv challenge (Paw vs. Rp, r2 = 0.96) or whole lung aerosol challenge (RL vs. Rp, r2 = 0.84). We conclude that the measurement of the collateral resistance response to iv challenge may provide a sensitive method for assessing airway reactivity.     

Preventing mediastinal shift after pneumonectomy impairs regenerative alveolar tissue growth

To examine the effects of mechanical lung strain on regenerative growth of alveolar septal tissue after pneumonectomy (PNX), we replaced the right lungs of adult dogs with a custom-shaped inflatable silicone prosthesis. The prosthesis was either inflated (Inf) to maintain the mediastinum at the midline or deflated to allow mediastinal shift. The animals were euthanized approximately 15 mo later, and the lungs were fixed at a constant distending pressure. With the Inf prostheses, lung expansion, alveolar septal tissue volumes, surface areas, and diffusing capacity of the tissue-plasma barrier were significantly lower than with the deflated prostheses; the expected post-PNX tissue responses were impaired by 30-60%. Capillary blood volume was significantly higher with Inf prostheses, consistent with microvascular congestion. Measurements in the Inf group remained consistently and significantly higher than those expected for a normal left lung, indicating persistence of partial compensation. In one dog, delayed deflation of the prosthesis 9-10 mo after PNX led to vigorous lung expansion and septal tissue growth, particularly of type II epithelial cells. We conclude that mechanical lung strain is a major signal for regenerative lung growth; however, other signals are also implicated, accounting for a significant fraction of the compensatory response to PNX.     

Effects of neutrophils on collateral ventilation and peripheral lung reactivity in dogs

We studied the effects of neutrophil activation on collateral ventilation and peripheral lung reactivity in anesthetized dogs. A fiberoptic bronchoscope was wedged into a segmental airway under direct vision. Ventilation beyond the obstruction thus occurred only through collateral channels. Through one lumen of a double-lumen catheter threaded through the suction port of a bronchoscope, 5% CO2 in air was infused at a known constant rate (V coll). Through the other lumen, pressure at the tip of the bronchoscope was monitored (Pb). For measurements of resistance to flow through the collateral system (Rcs), the ventilation was stopped at functional residual capacity (FRC). Histamine was delivered through the bronchoscope to the obstructed lung segment in the form of an aerosol mist generated by an ultrasonic nebulizer. Measurements of Rcs were used as a parameter of the peripheral lung reactivity to histamine challenge. Within one hour after intravenous infusion of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a neutrophil activator, the reactivity to histamine significantly increased. After this, Rcs increased even without histamine challenge. This increase may have been due to an edematous injury of lung caused by PMA. The nature of the injury was confirmed by wet to dry weight ratios. In the other group, the white cell count dropped below 1000 per cu. mm. after intravenous infusion of nitrogen mustard. The same experimental protocols were followed. The Rcs did not increase even with histamine challenge. Our results suggested that substances such as oxygen radicals and arachidonic acid metabolites, which can be released by activated neutrophils, may not not only increase peripheral lung reactivity, but may also induce pulmonary edema.     

Effect of nitric oxide synthases inhibitors on exogenous irritant-induced bronchial hyper-reactivity in guinea pigs

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important endogenous mediator involved in many biological functions in both physiological and pathological conditions. Many of studies suggest that high level of NO may play a role in the pathogenesis of various diseases including respiratory diseases with bronchial hyper-reactivity (BHR). The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between NO production and BHR. The reactivity of tracheal and lung tissue smooth muscle to histamine and acetylcholine was measured in vitro in male guinea pigs pre-treated with NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors. The drugs were administered in vivo during either 3 or 17 days. Furthermore, the animals were exposed in vivo to the toluene vapours after administration of agents. NOS inhibitors showed mainly beneficial effect in the presented study. They decreased the hyper-reactivity of the tracheal and lung tissue smooth muscle evoked by toluene. The decrease was dependent on the duration of their administration and on the type of inhibitor. Short-term administration of inhibitors was more effective than long-term one. A more significant effect was recorded after the pre-treatment with non-selective inhibitor L-NAME. The results showed possible participation of constitutive forms of NOS in the BHR.     

Airway reactivity and lung function in triiodothyronine-induced thyrotoxicosis

To evaluate the possible relationship between asthma and hyperthyroidism, airway reactivity and lung function were prospectively compared in healthy volunteers before, during, and after liothyronine (triiodothyronine, T3)-induced hyperthyroidism. Base-line evaluation of the 10 subjects included clinical evaluation, thyroid and pulmonary function tests, and airway reactivity assessed by methacholine inhalational challenge (MIC). All studies were normal. During T3-induced hyperthyroidism, no subject developed respiratory symptoms or changes in pulmonary function or airway reactivity. The mean percent change in forced expiratory volume at 1 s from base line (delta FEV1) of -2.4 +/- 3.0 after MIC was not significantly different from that obtained before T3 administration (-1.4 +/- 1.5, P greater than 0.2). When all serum T3 concentrations and delta FEV1 values before, during and after T3-induced hyperthyroidism were compared, there was no significant correlation. We conclude that T3-induced hyperthyroidism of 3-wk duration has no effect on airway reactivity or lung function in normal volunteers.     

Regulation of postnatal beta-adrenergic receptor/adenylate cyclase development by prenatal agonist stimulation and steroids: alterations in rat kidney and lung after exposure to terbutaline or dexamethasone

Glucorticoids and adrenergic stimulation are both thought to control the development of beta-adrenergic receptors/responses. In the current study, rats were exposed to dexamethasone or terbutaline during late gestation and the development of beta-receptor binding capabilities and adenylate cyclase activity evaluated in membrane preparations from kidney and lung. Prenatal dexamethasone exposure produced postnatal adrenergic hyperreactivity of kidney adenylate cyclase; the effect resulted from increases in the enzyme itself, as both basal adenylate cyclase and forskolin-stimulation of the enzyme were also increased by dexamethasone. Similarly, prenatal terbutaline exposure evoked increases in basal, isoproterenol-stimulated and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase in the kidney. In the lung, dexamethasone produced an initial postnatal deficit in basal adenylate cyclase and deficient responsiveness to isoproterenol, but the deficit resolved shortly after birth. Terbutaline selectively promoted the ability of isoproterenol to stimulate lung adenylate cyclase in the first few days after birth, without alterations in basal adenylate cyclase; this was followed by a period of prolonged subsensitivity of both basal and isoproterenol-stimulated activity. Although dexamethasone and terbutaline also caused significant changes in development of beta-receptor binding capabilities, in neither tissue could these effects account for the direction or magnitude of the changes in adenylate cyclase reactivity. Thus, glucocorticoids and beta-agonists can participate in the programming of development of postsynaptic reactivity by exerting actions upon post-receptor coupling mechanisms.     

氨溴索与肝素联合应用对急性肺损伤兔TNF-α和IL-1β的影响

目的：探讨联合应用氨溴索与小剂量肝素对急性肺损伤（ALI）时氧化应激,TNF-α和IL-1β变化的干预及其机制。方法：健康日本大耳白兔24只,随机分成3组（n=8）：①生理盐水对照组（NC）,②油酸损伤组（OA）,③氨溴索＋小剂量肝素治疗组（AH）。各组分别在给药前和给药后6 h采血及测定动脉血氧分压（PaO2）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白介素-1β（IL-1β）的含量,实验结束后肉眼观察肺病理改变,测定支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）以及肺组织匀浆中TNF-α、IL-1β、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、丙二醛（MDA）、黄嘌呤氧化酶（XO）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）的含量,检测肺组织原位凋亡细胞变化、肺组织湿干比（W/D）,光镜观察肺组织病理改变,电镜观察肺组织超微结构变化。结果：①光镜,电镜观察结果以及W/D提示氨溴索＋小剂量联合治疗减轻了ALI造成的肺组织形态学改变。②OA组中显著降低的PaO2均在AH组明显升高（P〈0.01）。③抗氧化指标GSH-Px和SOD活力检测,发现AH组比OA组有不同程度升高（P〈0.01或P〈0.05）,而氧化性指标XO活力和MDA含量则较OA组显著降低（P〈0.01）。④除给药前IL-1β外,在OA组中IL-1β、TNF-α含量均显著高于NC组（P均〈0.01）,但在AH组中有显著的降低（P〈0.01）。⑤AH组凋亡指数（AI）比OA组显著降低（P〈0.01）。结论：在OA致ALI时,TNF-α和IL-1β明显升高,参与了ALI的发生与发展。联合应用氨溴索与小剂量肝素可减轻氧化应激反应,抑制促炎细胞因子TNF-α和IL-1β释放,发挥对ALI的治疗作用。     

Adaptation of siblings of female rats given ethanol effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine

Summary Ethanol administration to female rats before and during pregnancy resulted in decreased number of litters and increased activities of serum GOT, GPT and ALP. The hepatotoxicity of ethanol was indicated by the histological alterations both in the mother and siblings. There was increased levels of tissue lipids in mother and litters born to alcoholic rats. The concentration of TBARS in the liver and kidney were significantly increased in alcohol treated rats and their litters. The activities of the anti-peroxidative enzymes SOD and CAT were decreased on alcohol treatment in female rats. The glutathione content in liver and kidney decreased significantly in litters born to alcoholic rats.We have observed that the treatment with N-acetylcysteine offers protection against the toxic effect of alcohol in female rats during pregnancy and litters born to them. In N-acetylcysteine treated rats the number of litters as well as the average birth weight were close to that of control animals. Nacetylcysteine decreases the activities of serum GOT, GPT and ALP in female rats. We have also observed decreased levels of tissue lipids in mother and litters born to alcoholic rats given N-acetylcysteine when compared to alcoholic rats. The levels of TBARS in liver, kidney were also decreased both in mother and litter born to alcohol + N-acetylcysteine, while the activities of SOD and CAT were increased in liver of alcoholic rats given N-acetylcysteine when compared to alcoholic rats. Histopathological studies also showed the protective effect of N-acetylcysteine in both mother and litter in liver and kidney against alcoholic induced toxicity.     

Cigarette smoke extract induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in human lung fibroblasts

Cigarette smoke is a mixture of chemicals having direct and/or indirect toxic effects on different lung cells. We investigated the effect of cigarette smoke on human lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) oxidation and apoptosis. Cells were exposed to various concentrations (1, 5, and 10%) of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) for 3 h, and oxidative stress and apoptosis were assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and confocal laser fluorescence microscopy. Both oxidative stress and apoptosis exhibited a dose-response relationship with CSE concentrations. Lung fibroblasts also showed marked DNA fragmentation at the Comet assay after exposure to 10% CSE. Coincubation of HLF-1 cells with N-acetylcysteine (1 mM) during CSE exposure significantly reduced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and DNA fragmentation, whereas preincubation (3 h) with the glutathione-depleting agent buthionine sulfoximine (125 microM) produced a significant increase of oxidative stress. Cigarette smoke is a potent source of oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis for HFL-1 cells, and we speculate that this could contribute to the development of pulmonary emphysema in the lungs of smokers.     

盐酸氨溴索联合布地奈德对致敏大鼠气道炎症及肺组织氧化应激水平的影响

目的观察盐酸氨溴索联合吸入布地奈德对致敏大鼠气道炎症及肺组织氧化应激水平的影响。方法32只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组、致敏组、布地奈德干预组（BUD）和氨溴索＋布地奈德干预组（AMB＋BUD）。测定各组大鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液（ABLF）细胞计数及分类;取部分肺组织行HE染色病理学观察;测定肺组织中活性氧（ROS）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量。结果BUD＋AMB组BALF中细胞总数、嗜酸粒细胞数、淋巴细胞数以及肺组织ROS含量均明显低于BUD组（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,而肺组织GSH含量明显高于BUD组（P〈0.01）;同时BUD＋AMB组大鼠支气管壁炎症反应及病理损伤程度也较BUD组明显减轻。相关性分析显示：各组大鼠BALF中细胞总数、嗜酸性粒细胞数、淋巴细胞数与肺组织ROS含量之间均呈正相关（P〈0.05）。结论氧化应激在哮喘发病过程中发挥着重要作用。盐酸氨溴索通过其抗炎、抗氧化作用,与吸入糖皮质激素合用对哮喘急性发作有协同治疗效果。     

Cigarette smoke inhibits BAFF expression and mucosal immunoglobulin A responses in the lung during influenza virus infection

Background

It is incompletely understood how cigarette smoke (CS) exposure affects lung mucosal immune responses during viral respiratory infections. B cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) plays an important role in the induction of secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) which is the main effector of the mucosal immune system. We therefore investigated the effects of CS exposure on BAFF expression and S-IgA responses in the lung during influenza virus infection.

Methods

Mice were exposed to CS and/or infected with influenza virus. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung compartments were analyzed for BAFF expression, influenza-specific S-IgA level and histological changes. Lung B cells were isolated and the activation-induced cytidine deaminase (Aicda) expression was determined. BEAS-2B cells were treated with CS extract (CSE), influenza virus, interferon beta or N-acetylcysteine and BAFF expression was measured.

Results

CS inhibited BAFF expression in the lung, particularly after long-term exposure. BAFF and S-IgA levels were increased during influenza virus infection. Three-month CS exposure prior to influenza virus infection resulted in reduced BAFF and S-IgA levels in the lung as well as augmented pulmonary inflammation on day 7 after infection. Prior CS exposure also caused decreased Aicda expression in lung B cells during infection. Neutralization of BAFF in the lung resulted in reduced S-IgA levels during influenza virus infection. CSE inhibited virus-mediated BAFF induction in a dose-dependent manner in BEAS-2B cells, while this inhibition of BAFF by CSE was prevented by pretreatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that CS may hinder early mucosal IgA responses in the lung during influenza virus infection through oxidative inhibition of BAFF, which might contribute to the increased incidence and severity of viral infections in smokers.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12931-015-0201-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

N-stearoylethanolamine inhibits growth and metastasis of the Lewis carcinoma and modulates lipid composition of the lung during tumorogenesis in mice

We investigated the influence of N-stearoylethanolamine (NSE) on tumor growth and metastasis of the lung Lewis carcinoma in mice. The effect of NSE on lipid composition of lung tissue under tumorogenesis was also studied. We demonstrated that NSE inhibited the tumor growth and decreased the volume and quantity of metastases being administered from the fourth day after injection of tumor cells to the last day of experiment and being administrated from the 21th day after injection of tumor cells to the last day of the experiment. The analysis of the lipid composition of the lung tissue showed the decrease of total phospholipid levels and change of the phospholipid spectra under tumor growth. The decreasing of the concentration of phosphatidylcholine, sphyngomyeline, phosphatidylserine and lysophosphatidylcholine in the lung tissue of tumor-bearding mice in comparison with lung of intact animals was observed. It was found that administration of NSE increased the level of lysophosphatidylcholine and decreased the concentration of phosphatidylinositol in investigated tissues. The content of sphingosine was increased in lung tissue of mice fed by NSE in comparison with tumor-bearing mice. The carcinoma development was associated by the significant decreasing of cholesterol level and by the increasing of unsaturated fatty acids in membrane phospholipids. The amount of the tiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive substances in tumor-bearing mice was elevated. The administration of NSE inhibited the accumulation of TBA reacting compounds.